Francis Leke, 1st Earl of Scarsdale

He was created a baronet in 1611, and in 1624 was raised to the peerage as Baron Deincourt (or d'Eyncourt) of Sutton,[4] a title assumed, as Thoroton supposes, (vol.

i. p. 213,) because Morton and Parkhall, in Derbyshire, both formerly the property, and the latter an ancient residence of the d'Eyncourts, had become the possession and inheritance of the family of Leke, and 'in memory', as he expresses it, 'of that illustrious stock, otherwise almost forgotten'."

(Burke 1852, p. 1381) In 1629, he was the subject of legal action by his widowed mother over non-payment of monies owed to his late father.

Sir John Gell observes, that the forfeiture of his word, on this occasion, was revenged by the garrison at Bolsover, who some time afterwards, when that castle was in the hands of the Parliament, plundered Lord Deincourt's house at Sutton.

Having rendered himself very obnoxious to Parliament by his exertions in the royal cause during the Civil War, his estates were sequestered; and as he refused to accept a fine from the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents, they were sold.